Lower Downtown's Historic Painted Commercial Signs

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Photos taken in February, 2005.

Remnants of Yesteryear. Lower Downtown once contained a wonderful mix of commercial and industrial merchants that provided virtually everything the nascent city could need.  But as "Downtown" grew to the south and the handsome commercial blocks of Lower Downtown fell into disrepair and abandonment, the painted commercial signs that graced the sides of the buildings remained.  Now, found within the city's premier commercial historic district, the painted signs of LoDo are preserved and protected as visible reminders of commerce in early Denver.

01. Together with Photo 02 on the right, the script at the top of this building reads "The M. J. O'Fallon Supply Co."  The five vertical elements read, from left to right: "Pumps and Windmills"  -  "Kewanee Systems"  -  "Heating Goods"  -  "Plumbing Goods"  and  "Engineers Supplies."

02. In case you were wondering, a "Kewanee System" was apparently a type of air pressured hose system used to supply water, manufactured by the Kewanee Water Supply Company of Kewanee, Illinois.  1500 block of Wynkoop (Block 016).

03. There are two overlapping signs here. One says:
"The Welker - Fireproof Warehouse - For the Storage of Household Goods and Merchandise."  The other sign which appears newer says: "Agents - Allied Van Lines - Moving - Storage."  1400 block of Wynkoop (Block 012).

04. The text reads: "Spratlen & Anderson, Wholesale Grocers."  1400 block of Wynkoop (Block 017).

05. The script appears to read as: "The George T... - Warehouse - Salesroom - ..."  with below that "The George T..." and the word "Hardware" and a few other illegible words. If you know the missing/incomplete text, please let us know.  1400 block of Wynkoop (Block 017).

06. Same building as in Photos 01 and 02, visible from the vacant lot on that block, the text reads: "The M. J. O'Fallon Supply Co." followed by "Windmills" and "Pumps."  1500 block of Wynkoop (Block 016).

07. The sign reads: "The Morey Mercantile Co." followed beneath by "...ware & Transfer Co."  (assumed to be "Hardware").  It appears as if there was more text under the next row of windows below.  1500 block of Wynkoop (Block 016).

08. Around the corner from Photo 07, the sign reads across the top: "The Morey Mercantile Co."  1600 block of the 16th Street Mall (Block 016).

09. The sign elements in yellow are original as was the large "Icehouse." Upon the building's conversion to lofts, windows were cut into the brick through the sign, then covered with a semi-transparent material to preserve the image. 1800 block of Wynkoop (Block D).

10. While the Rockmount sign at the top is obviously somewhat recent, the words on the large black sign behind are very faded and not legible.  If you have documentation of what this sign used to say, please let us know.  1600 block of Wazee (Block 020).

11. The sign still clearly reads "Barteldes Seeds."  Also of note is the ornate 2nd floor doorway, which functioned as the main entrance accessible from the former elevated 16th Street viaduct.  1600 block of the 16th Street Mall (Block 015).

12. The sign reads: "Kennicott-Patterson Transfer Co. - Household Goods - Moved and Stored".  1500 block of Wazee (Block 019).

13. What remains of the sign appears to say:  "... Hardware and Iron Co."  Other words include "Hardware", "Wagon", "Carriage", "Hardwood Lumber" and "Blacksmith".  1500 block of Wazee (Block 019).

14. Multiple signs appear to have been painted here over the years. Most is illegible, however at the bottom of the sign are the words "Furniture & Fixtures".  1600 block of 15th Street (Block 017).

15. The sign still reads clearly as  "John Deere Plow Co."  1400 block of Wazee (Block 018).

16. Behind the newer "Wagner Dist. Co." sign is a much older painted sign which reads at the top: "W. Volker".  This building was formerly the William Volker & Company Warehouse.  1600 block of 14th Court (Block 240).

17. This photo shows three separate signs on the side of this building at Wazee and Cherry Creek.  Those three signs are detailed in the next three photographs.  1500 block of 14th Street/Cherry Creek frontage (Block 018).

18. The sign on the left says "Hartmann Bruderlin Printing Company - Printers & Bookbinders." 

19. The middle image consists of at least two overlapping signs.  One says "Mild M & O Cigars - Every Puff a Pleasure!"  The other overlapping sign includes the word "Cream."  The rest is illegible.  Please contact us if you know more about these signs.

20. The image on the right contains at least two signs.  One says "Johnson Supply Co. - Mill Supplies & Welding Equipment."  The other says "Mountain ... Packing Co - ...ose & Packings".  Please let us know if you're aware of the rest of the text on this sign.

21. The script on this sign reads "Smoke Marburg Bros. - Seal of North Carolina".  1600 Block of Market Street (Block 047).

22. There are at least two signs overlapping.  One says "The Consolidated Grocery Co."  The other is mostly illegible, but part appears to read " ... Mill & ..."  If you have more info about this sign, please let us know.  1700 block of Blake Street (Block 021).

23. This sign says "The Consolidated Grocery Co." with underneath "Wholesale."  1700 block of Blake Street (Block 021).

24. The only legible part of this sign appears to read: "... Supply Co."  1800 block of Blake Street (Block 039).

25. At least two signs are visible at this location.  The logo in the center appears to say "Swift."  The only other legible words are in the four corners, reading "Moving", "Storage", "Packing", "Shipping".  1800 block of Blake Street (Block 039).

26. This sign, which includes a colorful collection of vegetables, reads at the bottom "Vegamato Cocktail."  1800 block of Blake Street (Block 022).

27. Unknown text.  If you know what this sign used to say, please contact us.  1800 block of Blake Street (Block 039).

28. It appears there are two signs at this location, with one of them possibly reading "Phelps Oil & Auto Works" although that may be a combination of elements from two different signs.  If you have any info on this, please let us know.  1400 block of 19th Street (Block 038).

29. This sign reads: "Cook's Paints - Best for Wear and Weather - Jack Scott Distributor Cook's Paints."  1300 block of 15th Street (Block 045).

30. The text on this sign reads: "Pioneer Iron & Mill Works Co. - Ornamental Iron & Wire Work."  1400 block of Market Street (Block 043).

31. This sign begins with "Cos." (perhaps the sign started on the front and wrapped around to the side?), followed by "Gold Belt Beer - Draught."  This building served as the brewery for Gold Belt Beer until Prohibition. 1300 block of 15th Street (Block 045).

32. The oldest known painted commercial sign in LoDo (1883), it reads: "Plattner Implt Co." followed by the overlapping words "Colorado" and "Dealer."  The best is below that, which reads: "Studebaker Buggies and Carriages." 1600 block (alley) of 15th Street (Block 045).